12/13/2012

H.W. Bush should be home by Christmas, hospital says

Former President George H.W. Bush is improving after being hospitalized for bronchitis, and he should be home in time to celebrate Christmas with his family, the hospital said Thursday.

"[I]nstead of battling the lingering effects of bronchitis, the focus of his treatment now centers on a physical therapy program designed to increase his strength in advance of his eventual discharge," The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center said in a statement.

"Given his current pace of progress, doctors expect that President Bush will be able to celebrate Christmas at home with his family -- though no release date has been set at this time," the hospital added.

Bronchitis is a common condition in which the bronchial tubes in the lungs become inflamed and produce mucus, which creates the need to cough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can turn serious in people with weak immune systems, including children and the elderly. Symptoms such as chest pain, weakness and coughing typically last two weeks, but can linger for as long as two months.

Bush served as the 41st president of the United States from 1989-1993, the capstone of a long career of public service. He lost his first bid for the Republican nomination for the presidency in 1980, at which time Ronald Reagan chose him to be his running mate. He went on to serve two terms as Reagan's vice president.